Free verse changes direction (5)
I believe the answer is:
veers
'changes direction' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'free verse' is the wordplay.
'free' indicates anagramming the letters.
'verse' is an anagram of 'VEERS'.
(Other definitions for veers that I've seen before include "Swerves" , "Changes direction abruptly" , "Turns sharply" .)